Travellers in England, or even those who may have an undertaking of great danger, from their excessive passed over the Pyrenees or Alps, can have but a faint steepness, and the slippery state of the mule-track. idea of the labour and danger of crossing the Andes," On these occasions, the mules," says Colonel Hamthat immense mountain chain by which the continent ilton, "take every precaution, and seem to know the of South America is intersected, from its southern to danger they incur; for they inspect the road narrowly its most northern extremity, dividing Peru and Chili, before them, and then place their fore legs close toon the western coasts, from Columbia and Brazil on gether, and slide down on their hams in a manner the eastern. Many of the Passes are upwards of which scarcely any one but an eye-witness would 18,000 feet, or nearly four miles, in perpendicular credit." height, above the level of the sea. In some parts men who have made it their sole occupation carry the passenger up the most steep and dangerous paths in a kind of chair fastened to their backs; but in general, the journey is made by travellers mounted on that patient and sure-footed animal, the mule. The above engraving is from a print in the Travels of Colonel Hamilton, who, in 1823, visited South America, as chief commissioner from the king of Great Britain to the republic of Columbia. It represents a perilous situation common to the traveller in these terrific regions, when his safety depends wholly on the sure-footedness of his mule. In the Pass along which the traveller is proceeding, the road is separated by a chasm several feet in width, which forms the mouth of a yawning gulf, some hundreds of feet in depth. The sagacity shown by the mules, in leaping these dangerous openings, which are of common occurrence, is a subject of admiration among all travellers who have visited these regions. In some places, also, it is necessary to make the descent of immense heights; Major Head, in his Rough Notes of a Journey across the Pampas, gives the following animated picture of the preparation of a train of baggage-mules for a journey over these dangerous Passes; and of some of the casualties common to these perilous journeys. "Anxious to be off" says he "I ordered the mules to be saddled; as soon as this was done, the baggage mules were ordered to be got ready. Every article of baggage was brought into the yard, and divided into six parcels (the number of the baggagemules,) quite different from each other in weight and bulk, but adapted to the strength of the different mules. "The operation of loading then began. The peon (the driver) first caught a great brown mule with his lasso, and then put a poncho (a large shawl in which the natives dress) over his eyes, and tied it under his throat, leaving the animal's nose and mouth uncovered. The mule stood still, while the captain and peor first put on the large straw pack-saddle, which they girthed to him, in such a manner that nothing could move it. The articles were then placed, one by one, on each side, and bound together, with a force and ingenuity against which it was hopeless for the mule to contend. "I could not help pitying the poor animal, on seeing him thus prepared for carrying a heavy load, such a wearisome distance, and over such lofty mountains as the Andes; yet, it is truly amusing to watch the nose and mouth of a mule when his eyes are blinded, and his ears pressed down upon his neck in the poncho. Every movement which is made about him, either to arrange his saddle or his load, is resented by a curl of his nose and upper lip, which, in ten thousand wrinkles, is expressive beyond description, of every thing that is vicious and spiteful: he appears to be planning all sorts of petty schemes of revenge, and as soon as the poncho is taken off, generally begins to put some of them into execution, either by running, with his load, against some other mule, or by kicking him. However, as soon as he finds that his burden is not to be got rid of, he dismisses, or perhaps conceals his resent-lost. "At length," the author continues, "I saw at a ment, and instantly assumes a look of patience and resignation. * * the rock, which knocked his two hind-legs over the precipice, and the loose stones immediately began to roll away from under them: however, his fore-legs were still upon the narrow path: he had no room to put his head there, but he placed his nose on the path to his left, and appeared to hold on by his mouth: his perilous fate was soon decided by a loose mule, who, in walking along after him, knocked his comrade's nose off the path, destroyed his balance, and heels over head the poor creature instantly commenced a fall, which was really quite terrific. With all his baggage firmly lashed to him, he rolled down the steep slope, until he came to the part which was perpendicular, and then he seemed to bound off, and turning round in the air, fell into the deep torrent, on his back, and upon his baggage, and instantly disappeared." To any other animal but a mule, this fall must have been fatal; he was carried down by the stream in spite of all his efforts, and, turning the corner of a rock, was given up for distance a solitary mule walking towards us! We instantly perceived that he was the phaeton whose fall we had just witnessed, and in a few moments he came up to us to join his comrades. He was, of course, dripping wet, his eye looked dull, and his whole countenance was dejected, but none of his bones were broken: he was very little cut, and the bulletin of his health was altogether incredible." "As I was looking up at the region of snow, and as my mule was scrambling along the steep side of the rock, the captain overtook me, and asked me if I chose to come on, as he was going to look at a very dangerous part of the road, which we were approaching, to see if it was passable, before the mules came to it. In half an hour we arrived at the spot. It is the worst Pass in the whole road over the Cordillera mountains. The mountain above appears almost perpendicular, and in one continued slope down to a rapid torrent that is raging underneath. The surface is covered with loose earth and stones, which have been brought down by the waters. The path goes across this slope, and is very bad for about seventy yards, being only a few inches broad; but the point of danger is a spot where the water, which comes down from the top of the mountain, either washes the path away, or covers it over with loose stones. In some places, the rock almost touches one's shoulder, while the precipice is immediately under the opposite foot, and high above head are a number of loose stones, which appear as if the slightest touch would send them rolling into the torrent beneath, which is foaming and run-you. ning with great violence. As soon as we had crossed the Pass, which is only seventy yards long, the captain told me it was a very bad place for baggagemules; that four hundred had been lost there; and that we should probably also lose one. He said, that he could get down to the water at a place about a hundred yards off, and wait there with his lasso, to catch any mule that might fall into the torrent; and he requested me to lead on his mule. However, I resolved to see the tumble, if there was to be one, so the captain took away my mule and his own, and while I stood on a projecting rock, at the end of the Pass, he scrambled down on foot, till he got to the level of the water. "The drove of mules now came in sight, one following another: a few were carrying no burdens, but the rest were either mounted or heavily laden. As soon as the leading mule came to the commencement of the Pass, he stopped, evidently unwilling to proceed, and of course all the rest stopped also. "He was the finest mule we had, and, on that account, had twice as much to carry as any of the others. With his nose to the ground, literally smelling his way, he walked gently on, often changing the position of his feet, if he found the ground would not bear, un'il he came to the bad part of the Pass, when he stopped; but the peons threw stones at him, and he continued his path in safety, and several others followed. "At length, a young mule, carrying a portmanteau, with two large sacks of provisions, and many other thing, in passing the bad point struck his load against THE NIGER EXPEDITION. Extract from a Letter of Richard Lander to his Brother. You know that when we were here together, Abucco, chief of Damuggoo, had been at variance for several years with his brother, the ruler of Atta. On arriving at the former place from the coast, I was sorry to find the brothers, with their respective subjects, still engaged in that petty but obstinate and ferocious warfare which had distinguished the quarrel at its commencement. Determined, if possible, to effect a reconciliation between them, I prevailed on our old friend Abucco to accompany me to Atta, promising to introduce him to his brother, and pledging my life for his safety. The meeting took place on the 22d of November, and a highly interesting one it was, I assure Our party, preceded by Jowdie and a few drummers, were introduced into a large square enclosure. The chief, seated on a kind of throne, was surrounded by all his ma lamis, and a multitude of his attendants. His wives were seated under a veranda, from which were suspended several handsome Tu key carpets, which served them for a screen. Abucco instinctively drew back as he approached the throne, but, taking him by the hand, I led, or rather pulled, him towards his brother. At this moment his confidence seemed to have forsaken him entirely; his head hung down on his breast, and I could feel him tremble violently. Whilst I was displaying my presents to the chief of Atta, I perceived him several times bestow a hasty and displeased look on his brother, who had disengaged himself from my hand, and was sitting on the ground. Though seven years had elapsed since their last meeting, neither of the rulers uttered a word. The curiosity of the chief of Atta having in some measure been gratified, I immediately introduced his brother to his notice, by paying him a high compliment, whieh Abucco had certainly deserved. I then expressed the regret I felt on witnessing the bad effects of the misunderstanding which had existed between them for so many years; insisted on the necessity of brothers living together in harmony; and said, I was determined not to quit the spot until I had established a perfect reconciliation between them. The chief was extremely disconcerted, but he made no reply. I then desired Abucco to rise, and leading him to his brother, I took the right hand of each, and pressing both hands together, made them shake hands heartily, observing to join the sea. It moved at the rate of about two miles an hour, with a loud sound of rain, passing the stern of the ship, and wetting the after part of the main sail. It was thence concluded that water spouts are not continuous columns of water. "You are now friends, and may God keep you so." | tapering in its descent, and proceeding from the cloud The brothers were deeply affected, and neither of them could utter a syllable for several seconds afterwards. Every countenance heamed with delight at the happy termination of the interview, and the multitude gave vent to their feelings in a loud, long, general shout. For my part, I need not say, I cannot tell the heartfelt gratification I felt at that moment. But this is not the most important good that I have been the humble means of effecting at this place. From time immemorial it has been a custom with the rulers of Atta to sacrifice human beings on rejoicing days, and on all public occasions. At the interview which I have just described to you, two poor creatures were brought before us to be slain, in order that their blood might be sprinkled about the yard. I shuddered at the proposal, and begged with earnestness that nothing of the kind might be done. I assured the chief, he would one day have to give an account to God of every life he might wantonly destroy; and also made him sensible, that though after death his body would moulder into dust, his soul would live for ever, and that it would be happy or miserable in proportion to the good or bad actions he had performed, or might yet perform, in this world. The chief was evidently much affected at my words, and desired his followers to unbind the intended victims, and remove them from the yard. He then made a solemn promise to put an end to the custom of sacrificing human beings. As soon as this declaration was made known to the mallams, and the crowd of attendants in the yard, they all held up their hands in token of approbation, and shouted for joy. It is now seven or eight months since this promise was made, and I am happy to say that it has been religiously kept.-Lond. Lit. Gazette. In November, 1801, about twenty miles from Trieste, in the Adriatic sea, a water spout was seen eight miles to the southward. Round its lower extremity was a mist, twelve feet high, nearly of the form of an Ionian capital, with very large volutes, the spout resting obliquely on its crown. At some distance from this spout, the sea began to be agitated, and a mist rose to the height of about four feet; a projection then descended from the blank cloud which was impending, and met the ascending mist about twenty yards above the sea, the last ten yards of the distance being described with great rapidity. A cloud of a light colour appeared to ascend in this cloud like quicksilver in a glass tube. The first spout then snapped at about one third of its height, the inferior part subsiding gradually, and the superior curling upward. A rumbling noise is often heard at the time of their appearance, which happens generally in those months that are peculiarly subject to thunder storms, and they are commonly accompanied or followed by lightning. The analogy between water spouts and electricity may be made visible by hanging a drop of water to a wire, communicating with the prime conductor, and placing a vessel of water under it. In these circumstances, the drop assumes all the various appearances of a water spout, in its rise, form, and mode of disappearing. It is inferred, therefore, that the immediate cause of this extraordinary phenomenon is the attraction of the lower part of the cloud for the surface of the water. APPEARANCE OF THE CITY OF MOSCOW. The following very interesting description of the appearance of the city of Moscow, in 1814, two years after its invasion and destruction by the French, is copied from the Journal of a British traveller. The toils and fatigues of a long journey were now to have some repose; the long-looked-for object of our cares and wishes was approaching, and the spires of Moscow soon hailed our gladdened sight. When the weary pilgrim, with tired limbs, comes in view of the turrets of Medina, he stops at the distant fonts of the city, and his zeal and strength are awakened. In like manner did we, at the view of this holy city, feel refreshed and restored. We forgot our toils, our sufferings, and our cares; and a full and fresh tide of enthusiasm carried us along. And here we must pause before us stood the ancient, and once proud spot of the mighty Czars, the once grand emporium of A Water Spout is an extraordinary elevation of the the North, where the fates of kings and nations were water at sea, and is frequently very dangerous to ships. so proudly wielded; where despotism had so long Its first appearance is in the form of a deep cloud, the reared its crest; where vice had so long held her court; upper part of which is white, and the under black. and where the tides of wealth and luxury were for ages From the lower part of this cloud hangs down a coni- rolling in, as to a common centre. Here was to be cal tube, its largest end at the top, which is called the seen every thing costly and magnificent; the grand spout. Under this tube the sea appears in a state of mass of European and Asiatic splendor-the pride and boiling agitation-the water rises, and stands as a col- envy of the northern world. This is the spot we gazed umn or pillar, some yards above the common surface; on: what a change! Lowly and prostrate it lies, its and from its extremity it spreads around in a kind of crumbling towers falling into decay, its proud banners smoke. Many instances have occurred where the torn from their burning walls, and scattering the shivwater has risen when no spout has been visible.-ered fragments to the hollow winds-its temples torn Water spouts generally appear in warm dry weather, -its gates demolished-its houses ransacked-its and when the sea is calm. This phenomenon is sup- streets laid waste. One sad and sorrowful picture of posed, by some, to be occasioned by electricity, while desolation is thrown around; wherever the traveller others ascribe it to the meeting of contrary winds.- turns his wearied eye, it is still the same: he will yet It is, however, admitted, that water spouts frequently see the demon of ruin stalking abroad in all the majesappear without any indications of an adequate cause. ty of devastation, and treading on these mouldering In the month of July, 1800, a water spout was seen piles, where once perched the proud eagle of the north; rapidly to approach a ship navigating between the he will see the sorrowing inhabitant sighing over the Lipari islands. It had the appearance of a viscid fluid, ruins of his roofless dwelling, and clinging to the yet warm ashes of those sacred shrines, where so lately he had invoked his fathers and his saints. Here, indeed, was a melancholy picture; on every side we turned our eye, fresh objects of dilapidated splendour presented themselves; fresh scenes of falling greatness were strewed around, and as we gazed on the crumbling heap, we needed not memory to give outline, we needed not fancy to give colouring-the picture was complete. The appearance of the city is altogether extraordinary. The innumerable spires and domes glittering in the horizon, powerfully arrest and astonish the beholder. The extensive plain surrounding the suburbs, occupies thousands of acres, uncovered either by trees or houses; but bounded at a distance by forests of birch. Here the great army of Napoleon spread themselves, before and during the fire, sharing the spoils of this devoted city. To this spot were conveyed every thing that could be snatched from the all-devouring element; and even the helpless mothers and infants came to beg a covering for their nakedness, but were refused at the point of the bayonet. About two miles from the gate is the palace of Peterskoff, embellished by Peter the Great, and which he used as his favourite residence when at Moscow. It is a huge gothic brick building, encompassed by a circular wall, with regular bastions. One great and vast feature of desolation surrounds it. The vestiges of war are strewed around its mutilated walls. Here Napoleon fixed his quarters when he found the Kremlin no longer a place of security against the raging flames. The entrance to the city exhibits a general scene of ruin, and appears from those parts of the houses now standing, to have consisted of brick and wooden houses, bundled together, without any order or neatness. Ai present, nothing more excites the appearance of wretchedness and filth; as you proceed, the streets assume a more regular form, with the remains of splendid edifices, divided from each other by mean hovels and gardens; churches of the most singular and gothic forms, with numerous gilded spires and domes, crown each other: it is almost impossible, by any description to convey a correct idea of this singular appearance. At the termination of the street by which we entered the city, we ascended a gentle elevation, and approached a lofty and massive wall, which appeared as the bulwark of an interior city. This is partly supported by an earthen mound, with a broad open space, through which a muddy puddle runs, called Neglina river. To the right of this wall, another immediately appears more massive, and on a situation more elevated, and crowned with gilded spires and domes. This is the bulwark of the Kremlin, and the central part of the city. Moscow, like St. Petersburgh, is divided by a river, the Moskwa. It rises in the government of Smoleusko, 80 miles west of the city, and after a cir cuitous course of two hundred miles, and assuming other names, it joins the Volga at Nichney Novogorod. The river is not navigable, but during the spring season, at the dissolving of the ice, flat barges are floated within the eastern suburbs. It is crossed by a small stone bridge, of seven arches, at the south end of the Kremlin, and by another made of wooden planks, at a short distance below the north end of the Kremlin; besides these two bridges, there is another made of floating planks, in the suburbs, at which the barges are moored. That part of the river which flows along the east side of the Kremlin, is very shallow, and not fifty yards wide. AN IMPROVEMENT. Our subscribers being better satisfied to receive the Magazine in monthly parts than in weekly numbers, it seems unnecessary longer to continue the weekly division of heads. In our next part, therefore, we shall dispense with them, and change our title of "Weekly Abstract" for "Monthly Abstract" of General Knowledge. By this arrangement we shall gain some room, and be enabled to introduce a greater variety of subjects, as there will be but one article a month on a single branch instead of four. Geography, which we shall now introduce, will form an interesting portion of our work, and its usefulness demands that it should be compiled not only with great care, but that the latest authorities should in all cases be consulted. Since the publication of the works of the most eminent authors, many very important discoveries have been made by travellers and others, which we shall collect and arrange in such a manner as to form a complete system of Geography. The department of Astronomy will also be revived, and illustrated as formerly with new engravings. Fuller says, that some impute the bald and threadbare style of the schoolmen to a design, that no vermin of equívocation should be hid under the nap of their words. POETRY. SCENE OF MISERY. I saw at midnight's lone and silent hour, A picture of dejection, sorrow, and despair. With friends and kindred relatives around,- Of peace and happiness, o'er which no cloud "Twas then the path of life looked plain, And the deceitful dream that promised happiness, She mused too on the change, that fatal change. Suddenly the step It was not always thus. There was a time With glaring eyeballs, and a look He gazed upon his sorrowing wife and sleeping babe Rum had changed SECTION XXV. THE CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE. LORD BACON classifies all learning relatively to the three intellectual faculties of Memory, Reason, and Imagination. Under the first of these divisions he places all that is merely Narration or History, of whatever kind it may be. Under the second are contained the different sciences, whether they respect the intellectual or the material world. Under the third he represents poetry and the fine arts. In the investigation of abstract theories and speculative inquiries, doubtless this is an advantageous arrangement. Unquestionably those three intellectual faculties enter into the elements of all kinds of knowledge, and indeed form the principal foundation of those different departments above mentioned. But we question whether we can get at so definite an arrangement and classification of human knowledge, by referring all known things to the means by which we attained a knowledge of them, as we could by arranging the facts themselves, which are the substance of knowledge. It is the business of the three faculties above mentioned to search out and store up fact; but it is reserved to Abstraction and Association, under them, to classify those facts, and erect them into distinct systems. Whenever facts are put into a tangible shape, Reason again, with the aid of experience, applies them to practical purposes. To possess facts is to possess knowledge; but we cannot retain them without memory, nor can we use them effectually without Judgment and Association. The advantages of associating facts of a similar nature together, for the sake of convenience and perspicuity are obvious. Mens' brains, confused and perplexed by an indefinite mass of all kinds of knowledge, crammed together without any reference to order or arrangement, are but mystifications mystified, and they are incapable of any vigorous or cogent intellectual exertion. But let system and arrangement dispel that confusion, and the mental powers begin to develop themselves. And here the secret lies. Knowledge lends power to its possessor, when he does it the justice of keeping it in order-when he knows where to find it, and how to apply it, on all occasions-when the mental resources are under a definite arrangement and classification. The following is believed to be a good classification of human knowledge as far as it goes. The whole field we divide into three grand departments; and those we find capable of numerous divisions and subdivisions, each having some obvious characteristic which entitles it to the class in which we place it. |